Monty Tech breaks ground on vet-science center (VIDEO)

Monty Tech students, administrators, local officials and elected representatives officially broke ground on Friday for a new facility on the campus that will house the new Veterinary Science Training Center & Clinic. Those participating were, from left, students Trevor MacMaster and Grace Kirrane; architect Michael Pagano; Chairman of the Board of the Community Foundation of N.C. Massachusetts Ted Lapres; Dr. Patricia Dettlinger, medical director of the VCA Sterling Animal Hospital; Michael Moschos, a trustee of the George W. Hanson Trust; Mayor Stephen DiNatale; Monty Tech Superintendent Shelia M. Harrity; Executive Director of the Mass. Association of Vocational Administrators Dave Ferreira; Nancy Crimmin, of Becker College; and U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas. SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE photos / CLIFF CLARK

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FITCHBURG -- School administrators, local officials and students officially broke ground Friday morning on a building at Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School that will house the school's new Veterinary Science Training program.

"This is a very exciting day for Monty Tech. Thanks for making this dream a reality," said Superintendent Shelia Harrity while opening the ceremony.

The 7,465-square-foot, single-story facility will be on the Westminster side of the school's campus. Construction will be done by Monty Tech teachers and students in the building-trades departments.

It will include classrooms, a laboratory and a state-of-the-art veterinary clinic, and is expected to be completed during the 2017-18 school year, Harrity said.

U.S. Congresswoman Niki Tsongas speaks prior to the groundbreaking on Friday. See tout video at sentinelandenterprise.com.

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Using students and teachers for labor will save nearly $1.1 million in construction costs, according to Harrity.

And not only will that provide a significant savings for the project's overall cost, it will give the building-trades students a chance to learn, said Barbara Reynolds, chairwoman of Monty Tech's School Committee.

"Students will be able to learn and work on the project, and also experience the pride of being part of this vet-tech project," she said.

Once the facility is completed, it will be able to provide high-quality pet care to limited-income households in the school district that otherwise may not be able to afford it, Reynolds said.

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Providing care for those pets, said Grace Kirrane, a Monty Tech junior and vice president of Skills USA Massachusetts, is important because "they bring joy to the people around them."

U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas praised the school's decision to provide the facility and programs for vet-tech training. She also recognized how low-income households need access to affordable high-quality care.

"Having a cat, I know how expensive it can be," said Tsongas.

The vocational school is partnering with Becker College, which will provide an on-site veterinarian at no cost, and Becker students will use the facility to complete course requirements in its clinic.

"It could not have come at a better time, said Dr. Patricia Dettlinger, medical director of the VCA Sterling Animal Hospital.

Dr. Nancy Crimmin agreed, saying the educational requirements for those pursuing a career as a veterinarian technician involve more training than in the past.

"This will give Monty Tech students an opportunity for hands-on, experiential learning," said Crimmin, who is senior vice president and chief academic and student affair officer at Becker College.

Harrity also thanked individuals, businesses and foundations that made donations for the new facility, including the school's foundation, the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, Workers Credit Union, Seaboard Folding Box, IC Federal Credit Union, Lowe's Home Improvement, Achla Madan and Ashok Hingorany, Rollstone Bank & Trust, the Crocker Foundation, the George Hanson Trust, Ronald Ansin, Ryan Patrick Jones Foundation, the George Alden Trust, Silver Fox Motorcoaches, Stratos Dukakis, the George R. Wallace Foundation, and the state's office of Housing and Economic Development.

She also thanked Graves Concrete in Templeton, S&M Farms in Fitchburg, and P.J. Keating Co. in Lunenburg for providing services to complete the site work.

The building was designed by Lamoureux, Pagano & Associates of Worcester.

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